Los Angeles California Social Security Disability Insurance Law Blog

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Some workers are at risk of serious knee injuries because of their job duties. These can be painful and are sometimes activity-limiting. Serious injuries and ones that occur to people who have intense jobs can also end careers.

One injury that is particularly troublesome is a torn anterior cruciate ligament. This is commonly associated with a sudden stop in movement, having to jump, or making quick changes in direction. Using proper body mechanics and having proper safety gear can help to prevent this injury.

If you need to apply for Social Security Disability in California, you may want to check into compassionate allowances. According to the Social Security Administration, compassionate allowances are a quick way to identify qualifying medical conditions. If your disability obviously qualifies, you may fall under the compassionate allowances program.

To get SSDI, you have to have a qualifying medical condition. It can take some time to go through the application process because the SSA must verify your condition meets the requirements to qualify for SSDI. However, with compassionate allowances, if you have certain conditions, there is no need to run them through the qualification process, so your application may get approval much quicker.

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

Suffering a workplace injury can be a downright traumatic experience. Not only do you have to deal with the pain of your injury, but you also have to worry about the impact it will have on your life and your family. The process of dealing with both the workers' compensation insurance program can also be quite stressful.

In order to recover as smoothly as possible after an injury, it is important that you understand your rights following a workplace accident. Whether your injury is the result of a single traumatic event or accumulated trauma due to repetitive stress, you may have the right to medical coverage, as well as temporary or permanent disability payments. Your employer should also work with you to help you get back on the job, if possible.

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center posted in mental conditions on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.

While people often joke about being obsessive and compulsive, for people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, the condition is no laughing matter. OCD is a devastating condition that can take over your whole life, making it almost impossible to get through each day. According to WebMD, OCD involves two distinct symptoms or phases: obsession and compulsion.

If you have OCD, you cannot control what you do. Instead, the obsessions and compulsions control you. They affect your daily life in profound ways. The symptoms usually develop over time. You may notice something as a silly little thing you do, but gradually, it begins to take over and develops into either an obsession or a compulsion.

Given the frequency of the rhetoric thrown around about how Social Security funds are being drained, many in Los Angeles may believe to currently be easy to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The fact that the Social Security Administration itself confirms that 10.1 million people received such benefits in 2017 alone seems to support this assumption. Yet in reality, the SSA has established very strict requirements for SSD qualification in order to prevent abuse.

Most may think that a simple diagnosis of a debilitating condition from a doctor may be enough to justify federal benefits, yet even confirmation that one has a disabling condition right now does not necessarily mean that it's effects will not abate and allow whoever is suffering from them to be able to return to work in the future. If one's disability is not projected to be long-term, there may be other benefit programs that they can turn to for a few months of financial assistance.

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center on Monday, November 5, 2018.

People who work in offices might think that they are much safer than people who have other professions. While they may not have to deal with the same risks, there are some specific dangers that do need to be considered.

One potential injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is commonly associated with people who work primarily on computers. This condition doesn't usually come on all at once. It is a cumulative trauma injury, so it starts off as a minor bother and progressively gets worse.

Every day, people who are employed in many different fields find themselves on the road as part of their job duties. Those who drive large trucks, delivery trucks or taxis may become involved in a work-related traffic crash. It is important to understand that many other fields may involve the risk of a traffic accident for workers in Los Angeles and all across California. For example, someone who is part of a road construction crew may be hit by a vehicle, or someone who works in an office could be struck by a reckless driver while they are running an errand.

Sadly, on-the-job crashes can be especially devastating and happen unexpectedly. Someone who is perfectly healthy and capable of performing their job responsibilities well may all of a sudden find themselves hospitalized and unable to walk, let alone work. Under these circumstances, the physical, financial and emotional impact of such an event can be overwhelming. Fortunately, certain options may help victims recover from these crashes, such as disability benefits.

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

People who have served honorably in the military sometimes suffer from injuries that prevent them from being able to continue their service. Many of these individuals will be able to receive disability payments from Veterans Affairs. If you are among these individuals, you should know that you may also be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. These two programs won't affect each other, which can be a big help to veterans.

There are some important points to consider if you are thinking of applying for both types of benefits.

The process for applying for disability is a long one. Many different factors can have a part in just how long you have to wait. One thing that you shouldn't do is to count on a quick approval because this likely won't be forthcoming and your financial state can decline quickly while you await the outcome of your application.

If you need to file for Social Security Disability Insurance, make sure you are prepared.

On behalf of Disability Rights Law Center posted in mental conditions on Saturday, October 6, 2018.

If you know someone who you are concerned is depressed, it may not be unusual for you to notice that he or she seems to be withdrawn, unwell and unhappy. However, it is vital that you are aware of the signs of depression that could indicate that someone you care about in California may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.

At some point in their life, everyone will experience times of sadness or times when things are less-than-ideal. However, if you notice that someone you care about is suffering from these negative emotions for an extended period, he or she may be depressed. According to Web MD, if you suspect that your loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts that are connected to the depression that is being suffered, here are some of the things you should watch for:

A very noticeable and fast switch from a downtrodden and unhappy demeanor to a calm and joyful one.

Discussions about death and suicide.

Frequent conversations about feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness in regards to their situation getting better.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.